Global Markets:
- Asian stock markets: Nikkei up 2.25 %, Shanghai Composite gained 0.70 %, Hang Seng rallied 2.10 %, ASX 200 rose 1.95 %
- Commodities: Gold at $1064 (+0.25 %), Silver at $13.82 (+0.35 %), WTI Oil at $37.08 (-0.75 %), Brent Oil at $38.60 (+0.05 %)
- Rates: US 10 year yield at 2.67, UK 10 year yield at 1.95, German 10 year yield at 0.65
News & Data:
- Australia Westpac Leading Index (MoM) Nov: -0.2% (prev 0.1%)
- Japan Nikkei Manufacturing PMI (Dec, P): 52.5 (prev 52.6)
- PBoC Fixes Yuan Reference Rate At 6.4626 (prev 6.4559)
- New Zealand FinMin English: NZ Exporters Would Prefer Weaker Kiwi — BBG
- Indonesia Would Not Oppose Any OPEC Call To Cut Output — BBG
- Fed opens meeting to put an end to crisis era policy – RTRS
- Asia stocks gain as Wall Street rises before Fed, dollar stands tall
Markets Update:
The USD strengthened ahead of the Federal Reserve rate decision tonight. US inflation data arrived higher than expected yesterday and added to the expectations that the central bank will hike rates by 25 bps. EUR/USD fell to 1.0905 after briefly trading above 1.1050 in the early European session. In Asia, it started the day around 1.0920 and rose to a high of 1.0948 after the Hong Kong open. GBP/USD had even sharper decline, as it tumbled from 1.5185 to a low of 1.5030. Price action was relatively quiet after it found some support at 1.5030. Overnight, it consolidated between in a 1.5032-57 range.
USD/JPY rallied above 121.30 yesterday and made it to 121.90 in Asia. Key resistance now lies at 122.20, which is the last Friday's high, while support is seen at 121.00 and 120.40. Meanwhile, the commodity currencies remain relatively bid, despite the recent USD strength. AUD/USD only fell to 0.7160, where it found support and rallied back to 0.7210. The decline in NZD/USD was limited to 0.6740, roughly 80 pips from yesterday's high, and in Asia it was able to recover to 0.6775. USD/CAD was unusually quiet, as the rally in Oil supported the CAD prevented further gains in the pair.
Upcoming Events:
- 08:00 GMT – French Manufacturing PMI
- 08:00 GMT – French Services PMI
- 08:30 GMT – German Manufacturing PMI
- 08:30 GMT – German Services PMI
- 09:00 GMT – Euro Zone Manufacturing PMI
- 09:00 GMT – Euro Zone Services PMI
- 09:30 GMT – UK Claimant Count Change
- 09:30 GMT – UK Unemployment Rate
- 10:00 GMT – Euro Zone CPI
- 13:30 GMT – US Building Permits
- 13:30 GMT – US Housing Starts
- 14:15 GMT – US Industrial Production
- 14:15 GMT – US Manufacturing Production
- 14:45 GMT – US Manufacturing PMI
- 19:00 GMT – FOMC Rate Decision
- 19:00 GMT – FOMC Statement
- 21:45 GMT – New Zealand GDP
